JAI HINDLEY WINS GIRO D’ITALIA OVER RICHARD CARAPAZ AND MATTEO SOBRERO TAKES STAGE 21.
Jai Hindley became the first Australian to win the Giro d’Italia – proving his near-miss against 2020’s depleted field was no fluke. Bora-Hansgrohe carved apart the GC battle on the penultimate stage on Saturday, cracking pre-race favourite Richard Carapaz in the mountains as Hindley opened up a 1’25” lead heading into Sunday. This time there would be no final-day heartbreak for Hindley.
Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) finished off the job to secure a maiden Grand Tour overall victory at the Giro d’Italia, with Matteo Sobrero (BikeExchange-Jayco) producing an outrageous performance to win the Stage 21 time trial.
Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) started Saturday’s mountain stage as the favourite but cracked in the final three kilometres as the GC battle flipped, leaving Hindley with a 1’25” lead heading into the final day. It always looked an insurmountable task for the 2019 champion.
Hindley had been in this scenario before. In 2020, he seized the leader’s maglia rosa on the penultimate day ahead of the decisive time trial. He was unable to stop Tao Geoghegan Hart from stealing it straight off his shoulders – but two years on, he proved his close-shave with pink was no fluke.
Carapaz still marked his 29th birthday by holding onto second, with Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) taking the final spot on the podium.
More to follow.
